Su Rui – World’s First Remote Control Driven Car

Chinese cars are specially known more for imitation than innovation. A new car is about to break that stereotype. Chinese car maker BYD has announced that they have created the world’s first remote control driven car named Su Rui (name for the Chinese market). The car can be maneuvered from outside of the vehicle by using the controls on the car key.

The car Su Rui can not only be driven from inside, but also from outside using a remote control. While driving the car from inside, it can get to a speed of 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.9 seconds. But while the driver maneuvers the car via remote control, the car can reach a maximum speed of 2 km/h (1.2 mph). In fact, maneuvering the car via remote control is an optional method to start, stop, move the car backwards and forwards and turned left and right. In addition, the air condition of the car can also be started via remote control.

The option for controlling the car via remote control is devised for parking the car in tight spaces. Using the remote control, the driver can easily come out of the car and then park the car in a very tight space easily. In windy or rainy weather, the driver can bring the car close to him/her via remote control. However, this function works only when the distance between the car and remote control is within 10 meters (33 ft).

Su Rui is a five seated sedan. It is the successor of the “BYD F3” which debuted this April on the Beijing Auto Show. The new car has Bosch 9th generation Electronic Stability Program (ESP), tire pressure monitoring system, electric park brake system, front right wheel blind spot visibility system, color reversing video surveillance system, remote control power windows, 13 types of intelligent voice reminder and 5.1 channel, and 10 speaker sound system with independent power amplifier and in-car cinema.

Su Rui has two engines, one an 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that pushes out 109 hp and 145 Nm of torque with a five-speed manual transmission, while the other is a 1.5-liter turbo four with 154 hp with 240 Nm of torque and the choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

The price for Su Rui in China starts at 65,900 yuan (approx. US$10,365) and ends at 99,900 yuan (approx. US$15,715).